In this Issue:

• Headlines
• House and Senate Opening Salvos on 2024 Farm Bill
• Avian Influenza Update
• GMP and AgriTrust Hosting Worker Heat Stress Webinar for Dairy Farmers
• How Cows Become a Part of America's Past Time Once Their Time Has Come
• Reminders: GA Commodity Commissions Seeking Nominations and GAC Scholarship Opportunity
• Upcoming Events

Headlines

articles and press releases of interest this week

• Estate Tax Exemption Expiring: What Farmers Need to Know
• 2024 All Milk Price Sees Growth; More Cows and Production Predicted
• CDC Makes Public Influenza Wastewater Data to Assist Bird Flu Probe
• House Ag Chairman GT Thompson Releases a New Roadmap for Farm Bill
• FARM Program Cites Continuous Improvement in Dairy Animal Care
• Calf Values Soar, Springer Prices Remain Steady
• Spring in Full Swing But Not a Typical Year in the Dairy Industry
• Navigating Dairy Market Volatility with DRP
• Yale Researchers Create Tool to See How Your State or County Feels About Climate Issues

House and Senate Push Out Dueling Farm Bill Summaries

US House Ag Committee and Chairman GT Thompson made the chamber’s first real move in the process of passing a new Farm Bill by releasing a detailed summary of the policy initiatives to be included in the 2024 Farm Bill. The full text of the bill is expected soon, and the full House Ag Committee will hear the full bill later this month. 

The Chairman’s summary included several important dairy items. Perhaps most significantly the committee’s Republican caucus has included a provision to amend the Class I Mover and restore the previous “higher-of” formula. This has been the top priority among dairy groups since Farm Bill listening sessions began in late 2022/early 2023. Additionally, the summary includes a provision that would require USDA to conduct mandatory cost surveys of milk processors to determine accurate make-allowance calculations. 

The Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program would see important updates under this proposal as well. DMC Tier 1 production limits would be raised from 5 million lbs. to 6 million lbs. Producers would also get to update production histories and sign up for reduced premiums when enrolling in DMC for the life of the Farm Bill.

Other items of interest include increasing the payment rates under Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), reallocating Inflation Reduction Act funds to existing conservation programs, restores livestock funding in EQIP to 50%, and includes whole and 2 percent milk into SNAP incentives and school meal programs.

This move mirrors a detailed Farm Bill summary the Senate Ag Committee, Chaired by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), that was published earlier this month. The Senate summary also included raising DMC Tier 1 coverage and allowing for updates to production histories as well as the biennial dairy processor cost survey to determine make-allowances. The biggest difference is the Senate version did not contain any reference to the Class I mover.

While these initial moves by the committees are encouraging, there is still a lot of work left to do and plenty of changes in store. The House Ag Committee will “mark up” the bill later in May. This could lead to amendments that could alter some or all of the items above. The Senate Ag committee is also working on its own version of the Farm Bill that will likely include more of the Democratic Party’s nutrition program priorities. Yesterday, the House Ag Committee’s Ranking Member, Congressman David Scott of Georgia, released a statement claiming the majority was “undermining this goal by proposing policies that split the broad, bipartisan coalition that has always been the foundation of a successful farm bill.” Democrats will likely push to keep the climate and sustainability funds allocated in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act in their current programs while seeking to expand the nutrition title.

Odds are Congress will not be able to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill before the current 2018 Farm Bill extension expires September 30, but ag groups are encouraged to see movement on this major piece of legislation.

Further Reading:

• House Agriculture Committee: Detailed Farm Bill Summary
• Senate Agriculture Committee: Section by Section Summary
• Successful Farming: House Farm Bill Text Expective This Week



Your Weekly HPAI Update

Last Friday, USDA APHIS announced new resources for dairy farmers affected by H5N1 in dairy cattle. The agency will be making funds available to dairy farmers whose herds are affected by the virus. The financial support includes providing compensation for personal protective equipment for workers, supporting the development of biosecurity plans, covering some of the cost for pasteurization equipment, reimbursing veterinarian costs, and offsetting shipping costs for testing. These resources will be available to producers with confirmed cases of H5N1. Additionally, USDA wis also going to include losses in milk production in the agency’s Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) program. All of these initiatives combine to make $98 million in new assistance to dairy producers and will be available for 120 days after confirmation of H5N1 on the farm. 

USDA Resources for H5N1:



Protect against the potential for spread between human and animals. Provide financial support (up to $2,000 per affected premises per month) for producers who supply PPE to employees and/or provide outerwear uniform laundering, for producers of affected herds who facilitate the participation of their workers in USDA/CDC workplace and farmworker study.

Complementary to USDA’s new financial support for producers, workers who participate in the study are also eligible for financial incentives to compensate them for their time, regardless of whether the study is led by federal, state, or local public health professionals.

Support producers in biosecurity planning and implementation.

Provide support (up to $1,500 per affected premises) to develop biosecurity plans based on existing secure milk supply plans. This includes recommended enhanced biosecurity for individuals that frequently move between dairy farms – milk haulers, veterinarians, feed trucks, AI technicians, etc. In addition, USDA will provide a $100 payment to producers who purchase and use an in-line sampler for their milk system.

Provide funding for heat treatment to dispose of milk in a bio secure fashion. This will provide producers a safe option for disposal of milk. Heat treatment performed in accordance with standards set by FDA is the only currently available method considered to effectively inactivate the virus in milk. If a producer establishes a system to heat treat all waste milk before disposal, USDA will pay the producer up to $2,000 per affected premises per month.

Reimburse producers for veterinarian costs associated with confirmed positive H5N1 premises. This provides support to producers to cover veterinary costs necessarily incurred for treating cattle infected with H5N1, as well as fees for veterinarians to collect samples for testing. This can include veterinary fees and/or specific supplies needed for treatment and sample collection. Veterinary costs are eligible to be covered from the initial date of positive confirmation at NVSL for that farm, up to $10,000 per affected premises.

Offset shipping costs for influenza A testing at laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). USDA will pay for the cost of shipping samples to NAHLN labs for testing. USDA will pay actual shipping costs, not to exceed $50 per shipment for up to 2 shipments per month for each affected premises. Testing at NAHLN laboratories for samples associated with this event (e.g., pre-movement, testing of sick/suspect animals, samples from concerned producers) is already being conducted at no-cost to the producer.

CDC and FDA are also rolling out $101 million as well in spending related to H5N1 in dairy cattle. Neither agency has a direct role in responding to or limiting the spread among dairy herds, but both agencies are exercising their authority in the food and human health realms to monitor the virus. FDA is continuing to test retail dairy samples for dead/deactivated virus particles as well as studying the impact pasteurization has on the virus. Studies done in April show that pasteurization is effective in killing the virus in milk and FDA has not found any live virus particles in retail samples. CDC is spending $93 million mostly in laboratory costs as they are investing in their ability to preform genomic sequencing, surveillance, more.

Latest updates from APHIS show there are 46 positive cases across 9 states: Texas (13), Michigan (12), New Mexico (8), Idaho (4), Kansas (4), Colorado (2), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), South Dakota (1). There have been no new cases in new states since the announcement of a cases in Colorado on April 26. 

Resources for Dairy Producers

Information on Assistance for Farmers Affected by H5N1 in Dairy Cattle

AP: Feds Announce New Funding to Address Avian Influenza Spread

May 7 Guidance on Movement Order

USDA HPAI in Dairy Cattle Resource Page

USDA Order on Movement of Lactating Dairy Cattle

USDA Additional Guidance on Movement Order

USDA Movement Order FAQ

Secure Milk Supply Biosecurity Website

UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Email Guidance

Important Contacts for Dairy Producers

Georgia Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division

404-656-3667

animalhealth@agr.georgia.gov

Georgia Milk Producers

Bryce Trotter 

229-221-3906

bryce@gamilk.org

UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab - Athens

706-542-5568

athndlab@uga.edu

UGA Veterinary Diagnostic Lab - Tifton

229-386-3340

dlab@uga.edu

Additional Resources for Dairy Producers

• Updated HPAI FAQs
• HPAI FAQS (Spanish)
• Updated HPAI Recommendations for Producers
• F.A.R.M. Program Biosecurity Resources
• EPA Registered Products to Kill Avian Influenza
• US DOL Takes Critical Step in Heat Safety Rulemaking

Special thank you to GMP E-News sponsor Kreeger & Associates LLC. Check out www.kreegerdairy.com or call 517-294-3484 to learn more about current listings and upcoming auction events.

Want to showcase your business to dairy producers and industry professionals across the Southeast and US? Email info@gamilk.org to learn more about how you can advertise in the GMP E-News



GMP and AgriTrust of Georgia to Host Worker Heat Stress Workshop for Dairy Farmers

With the summer months returning to Georgia, our farmers are now responsible for keeping an eye on the temperature and heat index outside. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration is making farm visits during the summer months to ensure farmers are educating their employees on how to stay safe and avoid heat-related illnesses this summer.

Join Georgia Milk Producers and AgriTrust for a webinar on May 31 at to learn about OSHA's rules for Employee Heat Stress and what you can do on your farm to remain in compliance.

To register, email Bryce Trotter at bryce@gamilk.org or click this link.

GMP Classifieds

How Dairy Cows Become Baseballs

Whether you’re watching the Phillies, the Texas Rangers, or the Seattle Mariners, the baseballs belted over the center-field wall were likely made from cows that last chewed cud in and around Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Dairy cows live a short life on large farms, typically just 3 to 5 years. When their milk production drops off, the end is near. Cargill, a beef-processing plant in Wyalusing, Bradford County, takes in nearly 550,000 cows from a 300-mile radius, yearly. Just one of those hides can make about 108 baseballs, though, and with 30 MLB teams using tens of thousands of balls each season, that’s a lot of cows going from the pasture to America’s pastime.

“Our old hide manager used to say that 7 out of 10 baseballs in the Major League had hide from the facility,” plant manager Brian Emick said recently.

The Philedelphia Inquirer has a great article about how the Cargill facility in Pennsylvania and tanning companies in Tennessee and Puerto Rico partner to make the official baseball of MLB out of cowhide. Click here to read the full article.

Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commissions Seeking Nominations

Atlanta, GA - Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced today that twelve of Georgia’s Agricultural Commodity Commissions are seeking nominations from producers to serve on their respective commissions. Nomination forms are available on the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website and will be accepted until May 24th, 2024. Administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, these commissions oversee farmer-funded programs dedicated to strengthening Georgia’s #1 industry through research, education, and promotion of a number of Georgia Grown commodities.

“Georgia’s Agriculture Commodity Commissions play a vital role in supporting and advancing our state’s #1 industry through research, promotion, and education,” said Commissioner Tyler Harper. “I strongly encourage producers to step forward and consider serving on these vitally important commissions as we work together to ensure the continued success of Georgia’s farmers and farm families.”

Producers can nominate themselves, be nominated by others, or receive a nomination from an affiliated organization for their commodity. Their role involves attending periodic meetings and making decisions on behalf of their peers. Commission members serve a three-year term, with the possibility of reappointment. They represent the interests of the commodity’s producers. The Commodity Commission Ex Officio Committee makes appointments to the commissions in July.

Commission Members with Expiring Terms:

• Apple Commission: Andy Futch (Gilmer County) and John Reece (Gilmer County)
• Beef Commission: Kenneth Murphy (Meriweather County) and Kristy Arnold (Wayne County)
• Blueberry Commission: John Strickland (Clinch County) and Jerome Crosby (Atkinson County)
• Corn Commission: Herbert Daniel (Evans County) and Lee Webster (Burke County)
• Cotton Commission: Chad Mathis (Baker County) and Bart Davis (Colquitt County)
• Equine Commission: Julie Murphy (Brooks County) and Robin Tardy (Madison County)
• Milk Commission: Aillene Schaapman (Wilcox County) and Paul Johnson (Decatur County)
• Peach Commission: Lawton Pearson (Crawford County) and Drew Echols (Hall County)
• Pecan Commission: Brenda Evans (Peach County) and Emory Mixon (Toombs County)
• Tobacco Commission: Daniel Johnson (Pierce County)
• Vegetable Commission: Jamie Brannen (Echols County), Jason Tyrone (Lowndes County), and Bill Brim (Tift County)
• Wine & Grape Commission: Gary Engel (Gilmer County) and Eric Miller (White County)

Nomination forms are available on the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s dedicated commodity commission webpage or can be requested via email. Completed forms should be submitted by email or mailed to:

Georgia Dept of Agriculture

ATTN: Andy Harrison

19 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW.

Suite 324

Atlanta, GA 30334

For further information, please contact Andy Harrison at 404-710-1196 or andy.harrison@agr.georgia.gov.

GAC Foundation "Sumpin' Big" Scholarship

Georgia Agribusiness Council is also proud to announce the release of the William C. "Bill" Baisley "Sumpin' Big" Scholarship applications for 2024. This $1000 scholarship is offered to up to three students in need of financial assistance studying for an agricultural career at a college in Georgia. 

Mr. Baisley was a longtime friend of GAC and former Chairman and member of the Board of Directors, had a passion for the future of agriculture and those looking to advance it. Bill used the phrase “sumpin' big” as a way to move ideas forward. We honor him with this scholarship and look forward to helping a student that is moving our industry forward. 

Please share this scholarship application with a college student or high school senior in Georgia needing financial assistance and studying in the areas of agriculture or natural resources. The scholarship application is due postmarked to the GAC office on or before October 7, 2024. 

"Sumpin' Big" Scholarship Info

Until Next Time,

Bryce Trotter